His clients in the past year have included the Seven Network in its case to restrain James Warburton from joining the Ten Network, the former David Jones chief executive Mark McInnes in his defence of a sexual misconduct compensation case, Betfair in its litigation over wagering taxes, and a class action of local councils, churches and charities against Lehman Brothers Australia.

His long-standing clients include James Hardie, which he represented in the 2004 inquiry into asbestos compensation and ensuing regulatory action, and the Consolidated Press group in the protracted C7 trade practices case.

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Those companies and their directors also briefed Justice Bathurst, who dominated the Sydney bar in commercial work.

The day his appointment was announced in May, Justice Bathurst was before the High Court for four former James Hardie directors in an appeal brought by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, and won the dismissal of a NSW Supreme Court suit against James Packer and Consolidated Press relating to the One.Tel collapse.

At Justice Bathurst's swearing-in on June 1, Mr Smith said a common view was that "Tom was simply briefed in every commercial matter of any significance going''.

The two appointments have opened the senior Sydney field for banking, commercial, equity, trade practices and insurance barristers.

The standout choices for High Court work, including outside corporate matters, remain David Jackson, QC, and Bret Walker, SC.

Sydney barristers who were nominated along with Justice Bathurst, Mr Jackson, Mr Walker and Mr Meagher in the category ''bet-the-company litigation'' in a March survey by Woodward/White, Inc were Steven Finch, SC, Justin Gleeson, SC, John Sheahan, SC, and Peter Wood.

Ranking alongside them in a February survey by Chambers and Partners were Noel Hutley, SC, and Tony Bannon, SC.

Top-rated Melbourne silks who have appeared in large Sydney cases in recent months include Alan Archibald, QC, John Karkar, QC, and Neil Young, QC.

In his June speech, Mr Smith also noted that Justice Bathurst brought the number of Riverview old boys on the 49-strong Supreme Court bench to nine. While the complement fell briefly when Justice George Palmer retired in June, Mr Meagher's appointment will restore it.

Mr Meagher, a barrister for 30 years who took silk in 1995, will be sworn in on August 10.